Use of synthetic drugs on the rise among locals

Jul 31, 2022 News

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…molly, ecstasy tops list of abused substances

Health Facts

 By Rehanna Ramsay

Kaieteur News – The local health authorities are becoming worried about the rise in synthetic drug use in Guyana.  Synthetic cannabinoids (drug made from compounds found in the cannabis plant) are a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors to which cannabinoids in cannabis plants attach.

Dr. Travis Freeman of the Drug Demand Reduction Unit at the Ministry of Health revealed during a Your Health Matters interview (which will be aired tomorrow at 13:00hrs (1PM) on Kaieteur Radio 99.1, 99.5FM) that the issue has become a matter of concern for both the public health and law enforcement authorities.

Dr. Freeman noted that while unit tries to reduce the demand for psychoactive substances, which are any substances or drugs used to change one’s perception, behaviour, or attitude, the rise of synthetic drugs such as Methamphetamine (molly) and ecstasy, are now trending.

Dr. Freeman said synthetic drug use has become more prevalent among the youths and young adults.

“And what is even more worrying,” the Drug Demand Reduction Unit official said, “is the fact the list of synthetic drug available on the markets keeps growing.”

He revealed that “there are over 216 new synthetic cannabinoids being registered…some of these drugs don’t even have a name as yet and those are the ones that are being used and we are concerned about it.”

According to the doctor, the ever-growing evolution of synthetic drugs has outweighed the local authorities to keep track.

“Even our testing capacity is limited because they are being produced in such a rapid manner,” he added.

According to Dr. Freeman, more people are using this category of drugs because of its effects. “Some people use it because the short-term effects of usage are enhanced alertness, energy, talkativeness and false sense of well being and heighten mood,” the doctor said.

He noted, however, that there are other effects which are quite dangerous. “You can also have confusion, anxiety, dizziness, headache, tremors, panic attack, heart failure, coma, persons have died…mood swings are common aggressive behaviour, forgetfulness, short attention span, and neglect of personal hygiene,” Dr. Freeman added.

Dr. Freeman noted further that substance misuse can lead to substance use disorder or mental health issues.

“Studies would have shown that seven out of 10 persons, once you would have misused a substance in your younger years, you would develop a mental health issue as an adult. And these issues can include depression, anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, etc.”

He also spoke to the social impact of the drug use. “Persons under the influence can get into road accidents, interpersonal violence; substance use has dire effects for users as well as their loved ones,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said that his unit has been working tirelessly to address the issue.  He said there is a drug reduction programme which engage and encourage in school youths and young adults to develop healthy habits.

Additionally, he said, “You find a lot of times people use this substance as a coping mechanism…That’s why we encourage persons to develop healthy coping mechanism, reading, exercise and other healthy habits to take the space of drug use.”

The unit, Dr. Freeman added, wants to target at least 20 schools a year, both in the private and public system, in its bid to help youngsters decide against the path of substance use.

“Seldom would you find a person begins to use drugs at age 40; it takes place in their teens and pre-teen years, so we feel that if we were to address those two target populations and prevent them from even starting to use, we will be able to lower the incidence of people misusing the substances,” he shared.

The intention, he said, is for these substances to not become social norms, as has already happened in the case of alcohol. “Every social event or activity there is alcohol being served; it could even be a christening or a baby’s birthday and there would be alcohol served for the adults.”

Even as it continues with mass media campaigns, the unit, the doctor said, is now coupling the prevention aspect of its work with advancing its treatment and rehabilitation programme.

“This will build the workforce that deals with persons affected with substance use disorder. We’re supporting both the adult and juvenile drug courts which are promoting alternatives to sentencing, and we intend to strengthen these institutions working with us,” Dr. Freeman shared.

With roughly 120 persons receiving rehabilitative services annually, following drug use, he said the Unit has been working tirelessly to address the increasing use of synthetic drugs over the traditional ones, and also the fact that they are being used among adolescents and the young adult population.

In the meantime, the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) has been collaborating with sectoral agencies, including the Ministry of Education, to tackle drug use in schools.

In its 2018 annual report, CANU revealed that it discovered the use of ecstasy in at least five secondary schools.

“This situation certainly is very disturbing… it was established that most of the synthetic drugs are coming through the ports shared with Guyana’s eastern neighbour [Suriname]..,” the report outlined.

Based on statistics, for the first quarter of this year, CANU seized 49.2 kilogrammes of cocaine, 2,077 kilogrammes of cannabis, 1 kilogramme of cannabis seeds and 266 grammes of ecstasy.

As a result, a total of 39 persons were charged. Out of the cases made, 25 were linked to marijuana discoveries, 13 to cocaine finds and one for ecstasy.

 

 

 

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